An animal-free menu

Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times

Ryland Engelhart, center, a co-owner of the Cafe Gratitude restaurant chain, welcomes visitors to a free all-vegan Thanksgiving meal at the Cafe Gratitude a few blocks from the beach in Venice. "This is our quintessential holiday," he said. "This is our day."

Ryland Engelhart, center, a co-owner of the Cafe Gratitude restaurant chain, welcomes visitors to a free all-vegan Thanksgiving meal at the Cafe Gratitude a few blocks from the beach in Venice. "This is our quintessential holiday," he said. "This is our day." (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)

Ryland Engelhart, center, a co-owner of the Cafe Gratitude restaurant chain, welcomes visitors to a free all-vegan Thanksgiving meal at the Cafe Gratitude a few blocks from the beach in Venice. "This is our quintessential holiday," he said. "This is our day."